How about several CD-release parties and a whole lot of piano players?

Release 'em

This weekend there are three CD-release gatherings, one each pop/rock, Afropop and blues. Here they are, in chronological order.

The phrase “wild party” conjures up visions of broken glass, wrecked furniture and maybe a compact car in a swimming pool. The music of San Antonio power-pop/rock quartet Wild Party doesn't sound like the soundtrack to that kind of party. But that's not to take a thing away from the band.

Wild Party — Lincoln Kreifels (vocals), Lucas Hughes (guitar), Lincoln's older brother Jake Kreifels (bass) and Ethan Kaufmann (drums) — will take over the Limelight on Friday to celebrate the release of its debut CD, the beautifully crafted “All Nighter.”

With punchy, catchy and rock-solid sound, Wild Party makes the kind of accessible, relatable power pop that defies time. Even the most curmudgeonly and tone deaf will want to move to songs such as “When I Get Older,” “Out Right,” “Take My Advice” and “Walkin.” Board the Wild Party bandwagon now or you just might be left behind.

Speaking of catchy, it's time for Afropop. Though Afropop is a huge umbrella, much of the pop music of Africa is marked by irresistible rhythm; slinky, high-strung guitar; sinuous vocals; and horns that provide apt punctuation.

Austin-based Bamako Airlines plays a cool brand of Afropop that hews close to the music's roots and branches, while avoiding imitation and adding other-world music elements, including Eastern, to the percolating mix. The “Bamako Airlines” EP was released in December. The band will stage a local CD-release party Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Carmens de la Calle.

Cool Cat Charlie, guitarist/singer Charlie Cruz, is busy turning back the clock. The longtime blues guitar slinger is working out on the cigar-box guitar, an updated version of the homemade instruments that set many early blues players on the music road.

Cruz and the Cool Cat Charlie crew — his dad, Charlie Cruz Sr., an alum of the Royal Jesters, (bass), Gordon Bartling (drums) and Greg Izor (harmonica) — a few weeks ago released the debut CD, “Cool Cat Charlie” (Gondwanaland). Charlie then hit the road for a tour of Spain. Sunday at 4 p.m., Cool Cat Charlie will celebrate the release of “Cool Cat Charlie” at Sam's Burger Joint.

The songs on the CD are basic, original and soulful. With the cigar-box guitar moving from a drone to a slide-driven wail, Cruz and company dig in and set up a mighty groove on songs including “Gonna Get You,” “Move Those Hips” and “Pack a Bag.”

It's ragtime

Wildly popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, piano-powered ragtime survives and thrives for several reasons, not the least of which is that it's infectious for listeners and a big-fun workout for pianists good enough to deliver.

The San Antonio Ragtime Society will stage the seventh annual Ragtime Festival Friday through Sunday. It kicks off Friday at the Radius Center with pianist Robert Edwards accompanying three silent films. The festival moves to Market Square for free concerts Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday at 7:30 p.m., there'll be a Radius Center concert with Brian Holland, Martin Spitznagel and Larisa Migachyov. Suggestion donation for the Radius concerts is $10.

Everyone who sits down at a piano bench will know what they're doing. Pay close attention to Virginia-based Spitznagel. A ragtime piano ace since he was a kid, the multifaceted Spitznagel (he's also a filmmaker and writer who knows more than a little about medieval and Renaissance times) will likely dazzle with classics and original compositions.

Jim Beal Jr. is host of the “Third Coast Music Network” show from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays on KSYM, 90.1 FM. Check the Music Beat blog at mySA.com; @jimbealjr on Twitter; jbeal@express-news.net